By Giddings                                           H.R. No. 1001
       74R12485 WMS-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, June 16, 1995, marks the annual observation of the
    1-2  Day of the African Child, an event created to honor the memory of
    1-3  the children of Soweto, South Africa, who lost their lives on that
    1-4  date in 1976 in the pursuit of freedom for themselves and their
    1-5  people; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, First observed in 1991, the Day of the African Child
    1-7  has as its focus the improvement of conditions for all children on
    1-8  that immense continent and it also serves as a forum to celebrate
    1-9  Africa's diverse cultures and traditions and dispel prevailing
   1-10  myths about conditions there; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, This event is commemorated in countries across the
   1-12  globe and includes festivals, education workshops on the rights of
   1-13  children, art exhibitions, and radio and television statements of
   1-14  support from Africa's governments in behalf of this worthy cause;
   1-15  and
   1-16        WHEREAS, To address the vital issue of children's health and
   1-17  safety, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was drafted and,
   1-18  as of January 1994, this international treaty guaranteeing
   1-19  children's basic human rights has been ratified by more than 35
   1-20  African nations; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Other exceptional strides made by African nations in
   1-22  recent times include an increased life expectancy, better and more
   1-23  modern facilities for access to water and sanitation, and a greatly
   1-24  improved educational system; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Children are our planet's most precious resource,
    2-2  for they truly hold the future in their hands, and it is the
    2-3  responsibility of all adults to shield them from the forces of
    2-4  violence, illness, and instability that threaten to destroy their
    2-5  innocence and even take away their lives; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, The Day of the African Child provides a unique
    2-7  opportunity for the world community to better see and understand
    2-8  Africa's achievements, its challenges, and the children who
    2-9  represent its future, and the commemoration of this notable day is
   2-10  truly worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be
   2-11  it
   2-12        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-13  Legislature hereby recognize June 16, 1995, as the Day of the
   2-14  African Child and encourage all Texans to dedicate their efforts to
   2-15  creating a brighter future for all the world's children on the
   2-16  occasion of this globally significant event.